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Photos of the Year 2008

December 1, 2008

Photo: Mike Urban, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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In this ten second exposure Sarah Johnson, of Seattle, spins a cage-like ball of fire as she practices her art at Richmond Beach in Shoreline near Seattle Tuesday March 4, 2008. "Fire has always been a fascination for me," Johnson recalled. "I was that kid at the campfire lighting twigs...and watching them burn."
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Mike Urban)
The photo is basically a double exposure. The first exposure is a flash on Sarah's face. I set up a strobe unit off to Sarah's right and triggered it with a radio transceiver. After a few practice timing runs we lit her torch. The torch is essentially a wad of fuel soaked rags hooked to a length of chain with a handle. As she twirled the torch, the ten-second open shutter captured the travel of the fire. less

In this ten second exposure Sarah Johnson, of Seattle, spins a cage-like ball of fire as she practices her art at Richmond Beach in Shoreline near Seattle Tuesday March 4, 2008. "Fire has always been a ... more

From left to right: Codey Schneider, 17, Matthew Lynne, 17, and Doug Devin-Aberle, 17, all from Snoqualmie, Wash. observe the rising river from the top of a bench in a park in Snoqualmie, Wash. on November 12, 2008. Severe flooding is expected due to the weather. (Karen Ducey/Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Literally, this picture uses a benchmark to determine the severity of a flood. less

From left to right: Codey Schneider, 17, Matthew Lynne, 17, and Doug Devin-Aberle, 17, all from Snoqualmie, Wash. observe the rising river from the top of a bench in a park in Snoqualmie, Wash. on November 12, ... more

Karina Blanco Lopez, 15, (center right) and her aunt Rosalba Naranjo (center left) - gather in front of the home where Noemi Lopez, Karina's mother, was found stabbed to death. Noemi's ex-husband and Karina’s father, Jose Angel Blanco, was charged with first-degree murder in the domestic violence slaying of his ex wife and likely fled to Mexico. Photographed on December 2, 2008 in Seattle. (Photo/Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Joshua Trujillo)
Photographing an emotion-filled memorial, such as this one, is uncomfortable and awkward, at best. What you don't see when looking at this picture is that I'm kneeling, trying to keep a low profile, surrounded 360 degrees by tears and raw emotion; and I feel horrible documenting the pain of those involved. But I also believe that society only confronts problems collectively when we all experience part of the pain. Even if just via a still image. After making this photo, and hoping that I did not offend anyone by documenting the scene, I was contacted by a neighbor who saw the photo in the next day's newspaper. The neighbor, who has known the family for years said: “Thank you so much for showing the respect you did last evening as the family mourned. I was impressed by your graceful handling of a very difficult situation. I have been complaining about the other news crews, so I thought it best to also commend where it is warranted. Thank you again for your decorum, and your photo of the vigil is powerful and authentic.” less

Karina Blanco Lopez, 15, (center right) and her aunt Rosalba Naranjo (center left) - gather in front of the home where Noemi Lopez, Karina's mother, was found stabbed to death. Noemi's ex-husband and ... more

Crowds packed Westlake Center as the tree was lit for the first time in downtown Seattle on November 28, 2008. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Karen Ducey)
My camera was on a tripod and it was a long exposure. I shot a wide picture of the tree and the thousands of people who packed the street to see it. Then I put on a long lense and tried to capture some faces. The blur of the people around this woman draws your attention to her snapping a photo of the tree. less

Crowds packed Westlake Center as the tree was lit for the first time in downtown Seattle on November 28, 2008. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Karen Ducey)
My camera was on a tripod and it was a long exposure. ... more

Photo: Karen Ducey, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Crowds packed Westlake Center as the tree was lit for the first... Photo-834738.7783 - seattlepi.com

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Matt Hasselbeck lays on a table behind the Seahawks' bench as he gets his knee tested after getting injured in a game against the New York Giants. The Giants beat the Seahawks 44-6.

October 5, 2008.
Eklund: It looked like Hasselbeck's season was over, as he went down clutching his knee in the Meadowlands. They used towels to block the view of Matt getting his knee examined, and just as I got this moment with tears rolling down his cheek, they moved the towels and blocked his faced and moved the photographers along. less

Matt Hasselbeck lays on a table behind the Seahawks' bench as he gets his knee tested after getting injured in a game against the New York Giants. The Giants beat the Seahawks 44-6.

Still life of chilled avacado soup with basil-lemon yogurt at Art... Photo-834757.7783 - seattlepi.com

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Sometimes it takes a little help from your friends during a storm. A twig placed under the stem keeps this daffodil from laying on the ground. someplace in Snohomish County. :) Photograph illustration by Grant M. Haller 3/28/2008 less

Sometimes it takes a little help from your friends during a storm. A twig placed under the stem keeps this daffodil from laying on the ground. someplace in Snohomish County. :) Photograph illustration by Grant ... more

Photo: Grant M. Haller

Sometimes it takes a little help from your friends during a storm.... Photo-834810.7783 - seattlepi.com

Watching the parachut pop out of their rocket are, from the left: Peter Schurke, teacher; Nat Mote, 15, soph; Patrick Ma, 16, soph; Sarah Crane, 16, Jr; Alex Kon, 16, Jr; Nelly Nicklason, 17, Jr; Kim Smith, 17, Jr; Julian Picard, , 16, Jr; and Katy Loubet-Senear, 17, Jr, kneeling, who fired the rocket. Ingraham High School rockety team launches a rocket at school. The Ingraham High School rocketry team has qualified for the national finals of the Team America Rocketry Challenge in Virginia in mid-My. They're the only team in Washington state to qualify this year. They've desinged, built and tested a model rocket that can fly for close to 45 seconds and as high as 750 feet, while carying two raw eggs -- and then parachute back to the ground unbroken. The top 10 teams will share a prise pool of $60,000. Friday, Apri 25, 2008. Seattle less

Watching the parachut pop out of their rocket are, from the left:... Photo-834808.7783 - seattlepi.com

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After Barack Obama's 2007 December visit to Seattle the numbers of his supporters grew to make an overflow crowd at the Key Arena in February. For a moment it looked like Barack Obama was in line along 1st Ave. North to see himself speak at the Key Arena. The full-size cutout of Obama was carried by Lakeside student Kelly VanArsdale, 18. . Friday, February 8, 2008 less

After Barack Obama's 2007 December visit to Seattle the numbers of his supporters grew to make an overflow crowd at the Key Arena in February. For a moment it looked like Barack Obama was in line along 1st ... more

We cover many demonstrations in a year and you try to come up with a feature photo that captures the spirit of the event. Here, Seattle Raging Granies Shirley Morrison belts out an anti-war song during rally at Pier 66. Marchers gathered at Jack Perry Park and for the "May Day March & Rally" and marched North on East Marginal Way to Alaskan Way for a rally at the Port of Seattle's Pier 66. Thursday, May 1, 2008. Seattle. less

We cover many demonstrations in a year and you try to come up with a feature photo that captures the spirit of the event. Here, Seattle Raging Granies Shirley Morrison belts out an anti-war song during rally at ... more

Photo: Grant M. Haller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

We cover many demonstrations in a year and you try to come up with... Photo-834806.7783 - seattlepi.com

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I've photographed many of the world's major religious leaders during the my 40+ years working for various northwest newspapers. I have photographed three of the Dalai Lama's visits to Seattle and each time I feel like I walk away with some sound ideas. During a press conference about the situation between Tibet and China the Dalai Lama tells members of the media that its their responsibility to keep their telescopes focused on the truth, that if they don't report the truth no one will. Sunday morning in the Hyatt Hotel. Seattle. April 13, 2008 (photo/Grant M. Haller/Seattle Post-Intelligencer). less

I've photographed many of the world's major religious leaders during the my 40+ years working for various northwest newspapers. I have photographed three of the Dalai Lama's visits to Seattle and each time I ... more

Photo: Grant M. Haller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

I've photographed many of the world's major religious... Photo-834805.7783 - seattlepi.com

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The wind blows through Olga Bourlin's hair as she stands on a corner at First Avenue and University Streets. Seattle, WA. Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The wind blows through Olga Bourlin's hair as she stands on a corner at First Avenue and University Streets. Seattle, WA. Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Photo: Grant M. Haller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The wind blows through Olga Bourlin's hair as she stands on a... Photo-834804.7783 - seattlepi.com

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The lines of a Lake Oswego Boat reflects in the weater at the Center for Wooden Boats, south end of Lake Union. Sunday, April 20, 2008 Seattle.

The lines of a Lake Oswego Boat reflects in the weater at the Center for Wooden Boats, south end of Lake Union. Sunday, April 20, 2008 Seattle.

Photo: Grant M. Haller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The lines of a Lake Oswego Boat reflects in the weater at the... Photo-834803.7783 - seattlepi.com

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From left to right: Christopher Teufel, 8, his grandmother Carol Lowry, and mother Jennifer Teufel (right) fill sandbags in a parking lot in Snoqualmie, Wash. on November 12, 2008 as the river keeps rising. (Karen Ducey/Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
It was so wet. It was so dark. It was so urgent. The river was expected to rise worse than ever. This trio made up of three generations from the same family was out there doing whatever they could to help out their community. less

From left to right: Christopher Teufel, 8, his grandmother Carol Lowry, and mother Jennifer Teufel (right) fill sandbags in a parking lot in Snoqualmie, Wash. on November 12, 2008 as the river keeps rising. ... more

Photo: Karen Ducey

From left to right: Christopher Teufel, 8, his grandmother Carol... Photo-834737.7783 - seattlepi.com

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Leland, a bike messenger for Indy Stealth Messengers who goes by the name "Huey Newton," rides down Pine Street in Seattle.
November 16, 2007.

Kane: This was the lead image for a series I did with Vanessa Ho on bike messengers in Seattle. It was a satisfying story, though I found the community a bit hard to penetrate. A lot of media coverage has tended to highlight less-than-savory aspects of the culture, including abrasive personalities and heavy drinking, and as such there is inherent distrust of the media. It took some time but I did eventually work my way into some interesting scenes and I feel the resulting presentation was meaningful. less

Leland, a bike messenger for Indy Stealth Messengers who goes by the name "Huey Newton," rides down Pine Street in Seattle. November 16, 2007.

University of Washington School of Nursing students learn about how to check for leaks in chest tubes hooked up to SimMan, a computerized, simulated patient used in the school's hands-on training lab Wednesday, April 9, 2008. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Andy Rogers)
I really liked the juxtaposition of these very intense medical students with the slightly creepy fake patient wearing an absurdly bright hat over his face. The hat was used by one of the students as a prop during a role-playing exercise, then placed on the SimMan when they switched to other types of lessons. less

University of Washington School of Nursing students learn about how to check for leaks in chest tubes hooked up to SimMan, a computerized, simulated patient used in the school's hands-on training lab Wednesday, ... more

Photo: ANDY ROGERS, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

University of Washington School of Nursing students learn about how... Photo-834789.7783 - seattlepi.com

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1st Officer Brian Moynihan, right, reacts as Cpt. Claude Tirman jokes about his preference for a sign addressing retirement security during an informational picket of approximately 300 Alaska Airlines pilots outside the Alaska Air Group shareholders meeting at the Museum of Flight Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Tirman plans to retire on Nov. 30. The pilots were gathered to draw attention to their ongoing contract negotions. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Andy Rogers)
There were a huge number of pilots at this picket, and I spent a lot of time trying to show as many of them as possible in my photo. In the end, the personality that shows through in a humorous exchange between these men ended up being far more interesting to me...and you still get to see a lot of pilots lined up. less

1st Officer Brian Moynihan, right, reacts as Cpt. Claude Tirman jokes about his preference for a sign addressing retirement security during an informational picket of approximately 300 Alaska Airlines pilots ... more

Alex Fritch, 7, and his sister Ana, 8, of Snohomish, Wash. empty the water from their boots after splashing in the puddles near the Pink Impression tulips at Tulip Town during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Tuesday, April 8, 2008. "The flowers are incidental. The mud and the puddles are far more interesting," say their mother, who has brought the siblings there the past five years. The kids have come to enjoy playing in the puddles so much, that the family times its visits for after a rain, bringing multiple changes of clothes. This was change number two on the day. The festival runs through April 30. The tulips have been about a week late to bloom due to cold weather, but Tulip Town owner Jeannette Degoede expects to see the number of flowers showing color to double within just the next couple of days, and the weekend to be a sea of color.(Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Andy Rogers)
We were looking for a stand-alone feature photo and so even though it was early in the season, I decided to a picture of the tulips in Skagit County. After poking around for a while, I was fortunate to meet up with these kids, who were more interested in the mud puddles than the flowers. I was gratified with the resulting photo, because it tells people about the ongoing Tulip Festival, but isnÕt all about how pretty the flowers are. ItÕs more about how kids make their own kind of fun wherever they go. less

Alex Fritch, 7, and his sister Ana, 8, of Snohomish, Wash. empty the water from their boots after splashing in the puddles near the Pink Impression tulips at Tulip Town during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival ... more

Seattle band the Presidents of the United States of America will release a new album, These are the Good Times People, on March 11, 2008. Shot in the P-I parking garage Monday, Mar. 10, 2008. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Andy Rogers)
These guys were super cool to work with. I wanted a picture that was kind of whimsical. They were game for anything and once I found a way to communicate the tone I wanted for the picture ("Think sneakyÓ), they improvised and made it work. This was all set up and executed in the parking garage below the P-I building. less

Seattle band the Presidents of the United States of America will release a new album, These are the Good Times People, on March 11, 2008. Shot in the P-I parking garage Monday, Mar. 10, 2008. (Seattle ... more

Photo: ANDY ROGERS, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Seattle band the Presidents of the United States of America will... Photo-834811.7783 - seattlepi.com